The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study is an African Union Commission (AUC) led initiative through which countries are able to estimate the social and economic impact of child undernutrition in a given year. Using data provided by the Ghana NIT, the COHA model estimates the associated economic losses incurred by the economy in health, education and potential productivity in a single year. The report estimates the economy of Ghana loses some GHC4.6 billion annually (equivalent of US$2.6 billion in 2012) due to the effects of child undernutrition.

An estimated GH¢4.6 billion (or US$2.6 billion) were lost in 2012 as a result of child undernutrition. These losses are equivalent to 6.4 percent of GDP in 2012. The highest element in this cost is the loss in potential productivity as a result of undernutrition-related mortalities - The Cost of Hunger in Africa: The Social and Economic Impact of Child Undernutrition on Ghana’s Long-Term Development (COHA)

AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 700 news and information items daily from over 140 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Monrovia, Nairobi and Washington DC.